Thursday, December 22, 2011

Christmas Treats

We love homemade Christmas treats at our house. This past week though, I have been under the weather, so I began looking for quick and easy recipes. Here are a few of our favorites.

Caramels have been a traditional treat the Farlows, my dad's family, has made for years. This year I found a recipe that can all be made in the microwave. That way I didn't have to stand over the stove stirring for half and hour or more. ;0)

Ingredients:

Directions:

1

Combine all ingredients.

2

Cook 6 minutes, stirring every two minutes.

3

Stir and pour into lightly greased dish.

4

Let cool.

5

Cut, wrap in wax paper & store in air tight container.

I doubled the recipe and cooked it for about a total of 9 minutes. I think I could've cooked it about 12 minutes and it would have been a little firmer. The flavor however is great! They are definitely worth the 6 min. involved in making them!!

My other favorite is chocolate fudge. I found this recipe years ago in my Betty Crocker Cookbook. It is so simple and quick I have used it ever since.

1 1/2

packages (12-ounce size each) semisweet chocolate chips (3 cups)

2

cups miniature marshmallows or 16 large marshmallows, cut in half

1

can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk

1

teaspoon vanilla

1

cup chopped nuts

1/2

cup dried cherries or chopped dried apricots

1/4

cup white baking chips, melted, if desired

1Grease bottom and sides of square pan, 9x9x2 inches, with butter, or line with aluminum foil.

2Heat chocolate chips, marshmallows and milk in 2-quart saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly, until chips and marshmallows are melted and mixture is smooth.

3Stir in vanilla, nuts and cherries. Immediately pour into pan. Drizzle with melted white baking chips. Cover and refrigerate about 2 hours or until firm. Cut into 1-inch squares.

Microwave Directions: Place chocolate chips, marshmallows and milk in 8-cup microwavable measure. Microwave uncovered on High 3 to 5 minutes, stirring every minute, until chips and marshmallows are melted and mixture can be stirred smooth. Continue as directed in step 3.

I personally do not add the nuts or cherries. As you noticed it also has microwave directions, but it really only took about 10 minutes to make the normal way.

Our third favorite and for me, the ultimate, are Buckeyes. My mother has made these for years, and they were a special treat for us growing up.

I have no idea where this recipe came from, I wrote it down from someone years ago.

Combine above in order given. Will be very stiff. (chill if you wish). Roll into small balls.

Chocolate Dip

12 oz bag of chocolate chips 13 bar of paraffin

( I actually use 2 bags of chocolate chips and just add about 2 TBspoons of oil to soften it a little---no paraffin).

Melt 12 oz. bag of chocolate chips and 1/3 bar of parafine in double boiler. (I melt it in the microwave, and place that bowl inside a bowl of hot water---just don't let the water seep in). Dip the rolled cookies into chocolate mixture and let cool on wax paper.

1 comment:

Hi Melissa,Your Christmas Treats look awesome, we would really enjoy them. Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday. I am wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!Come Back Soon,Miz HelenA New Follower